Environmental quality assurance system for use of crushed mineral demolition wastes in road constructions

Annually 1 million tons of mineral demolition wastes, mainly consisting of concrete and bricks, is produced in Finland. In field studies the crushed materials have shown favourable geotechnical properties for use in road constructions. The test samples from two crushing plants were chemically characterised and the leaching behaviour was studied by using column, two-stage batch leaching and pH static tests. Only sulphate and chromium leaching from the crushed material was detected. There was a good agreement between column and batch leaching tests. The contents of harmful organic compounds were very low. Based on experience and the results of the experimental study, a practical sampling and testing strategy for an environmental quality assurance system was developed. A two-stage batch leaching test was chosen for the quality control of demolition waste. Preliminary target values for leaching of sulphate, Cr, Cd, Cu and Pb were set. Both geotechnical and environmental properties of the crushed material indicate that the use of demolition waste in road constructions is acceptable and can be recommended to replace landfilling of this material. However, a detailed demolition plan is most important in order to have an acceptable material for utilisation in road constructions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.